Career Services Microcredentials

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The Career Services Microcredential Initiative builds the skills and knowledge in demand by top employers and graduate schools.

Microcredentials help students become more marketable candidates. High-impact mini-courses teach a specific professional skill or develop industry-specific knowledge — most are self-paced and taught asynchronously. A variety of courses are offered during four enrollment cycles: fall, winter break, spring, and summer. 

Through the support of our donors, students who receive financial aid from Colgate will be offered full or partial grants to support their cost of enrollment. Unaided students will benefit from the Colgate discount negotiated for many of the listed courses. Students are encouraged to read the complete program details below, including course listings and descriptions, prerequisites, and fees.

Students studying

Current course offerings: 

  • Adobe: InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop 
  • Basic Excel
  • Digital Marketing
  • Entrepreneurship Essentials
  • Foundations of Real Estate
  • Harvard Business School Online Credential of Readiness
  • Students may also propose a course for consideration

Course details and application

 

Summer 2024 enrollment is now open. Apply now.
Questions can be directed to Career Services at 315-228-7380 or internship@colgate.edu.

Supported through the generosity of the Robert A. Fox ’59 Management and Leadership Program, the Alan Greene ’51 Investment Studies Program, and the Walters Family

Frequently asked questions about the Microcredential Initiative

When students become focused on pursuing a specific industry, graduate degree, or position, Career Services’ four-year career development plan leads them to deepen their relevant professional skills and industry knowledge. The goal is to help students increase their readiness and competitiveness for internship and post-graduate options. 

Microcredentials are mini-courses that teach students a specific professional skill or assist them in developing industry-specific knowledge. Many courses are taught asynchronously and are self-paced. Application deadlines precede each course cycle.

Students from all majors in good standing with the university are welcome to participate. Each course lists specific parameters a student must meet to be considered for participation. Seniors are not eligible to participate in a course scheduled for the summer following graduation.

Students may only enroll in one course per cycle. If an enrolled student does not complete a course within a cycle, they are not eligible to apply to participate in another course for the following two cycles. 

Those who have been awarded summer funding in the spring of 2024 should consult Laura Hartpence (internship@colgate.edu) to determine eligibility for adding a microcredential course to their summer funding plan.

Current courses are listed on the course offerings menu, and offered through four enrollment periods (fall, winter break, spring, and summer). Not all courses are offered in every cycle. Students are encouraged to consider completing a microcredential course in advance of the hiring or admission cycle of their respective industry or graduate admission process of choice.

Students are strongly encouraged to consider their academic and co-curricular commitments before enrolling in a microcredentials course concurrent with a semester. All microcredentials offered during an academic semester are also available over winter and summer breaks.

Students will not earn any academic credit from Colgate for participating in microcredentials courses.

Students will submit an application that indicates their interest in a specific course. Each cycle (fall, winter break, spring, summer) will host a unique enrollment period. Students must apply no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on the deadline outlined in the course offerings menu to be considered.

Following the application deadline, Career Services will approve enrollments on a first-come, first-served basis for that enrollment period. Students will be invited to participate until the course has been filled or the allocated budget is exhausted for that cycle. At that point, a waitlist will form.

Once a student has been invited to participate, they will be prompted to confirm or withdraw their enrollment through an enrollment verification form. This form must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. EST on the specified deadline to complete enrollment. Students who choose not to complete this form on time will not be enrolled; their spot will be offered to a waitlisted student.

Following a student’s submission of the enrollment verification form, if the student does not complete the course, their student account will be charged the designated amount agreed upon in the application process.

Through the self-identified course option offered in the summer cohort, students may pursue training programs, courses, or credentials not typically offered at Colgate that will provide essential skills for their intended field. Academic coursework available at Colgate will not be considered.

Qualifying experiences will be primarily training in nature and may have both classroom instruction and applied components. Examples of qualifying programs may include CNA, STNA, EMT, or phlebotomy training; business courses; design courses; language programs; field school; or coding boot camps. Proposed courses must include a commitment of at least 30 hours to qualify.

To the extent resources allow, Career Services aims to decrease barriers to participation for students in core career development opportunities. Career Services has negotiated a discounted Colgate rate when possible for microcredential courses listed in our course offerings menu for students who enroll through this process. This discount is not valid for those who enroll directly with the vendor. All financial support described here is contingent upon the availability of funding.

Students who receive financial aid from Colgate:
To the extent that funding remains available, students who receive need-based financial aid or an athletic scholarship from Colgate (and who permit the Office of Financial Aid to verify their level of demonstrated need to Career Services) will receive a full grant to enroll in any of the courses listed on the course offerings menu. These students are eligible to receive a grant of up to $1,000 toward the expense of a self-identified summer course, training, or credential. Eligible expenses may include registration fees, required materials or supplies, and daily commuting expenses, when applicable.

Students who do not receive financial aid from Colgate:
Students who do not receive financial aid from Colgate may enroll in any of the listed courses at the discounted price shown. To the extent that funding is available, unaided students may receive a grant as follows to assist with the expense of participating in a self-identified summer course, training program, or credential:

  • A grant of $100 may be applied for total expenses of $0–$999
  • A grant of $150 may be applied for total expenses of $1,000–$1,499
  • A grant of $200 may be applied for total expenses of $1,500 or more

Eligible expenses may include registration fees, required materials or supplies, and daily commuting expenses, when applicable.

These students will confirm their consent to have their student account charged the designated discounted rate listed for the course. Students who perceive the cost of registration to be a financial hardship can request consideration for partial funding by reaching out to internship@colgate.edu. This support is not guaranteed.

Any student who does not fully complete the microcredential course by the designated date will be assigned a $10 non-completion fee to their student account. 

Registration or commuting fees that were fully or partially funded by Career Services will also be charged to the student’s account. No additional fees or charges will be incurred on a student’s account if they fully complete the course on time.

All students must agree to these terms as part of the enrollment process. Any student considering not completing a course they have begun should immediately contact Career Services for consultation before withdrawing.